June 2010 Issue 15 www.tat.net.au Convention coverage in August 2010 edition - subscribe to TaT so you don’t miss out! The Wizard of Wire and the Guru of Gas point the way ‘s a fact problem solving • A bouncing speedo caused by a faulty sensor on a Holden Barina • A dodgy a/c module caused this Toyota Echo to overheat in traffic • A wiring harness rubbing on $115 gives you: a drive shaft caused havoc • 12 months subscription to TaT for this Holden Barina XC • Six magazines mailed to your postal address • So many things went wrong • Access to illustrated solutions on line when a short killed the EGR • Problem solving service plug on a VW Golf APPLY ON PAGE 33 HANATECH TECHNOLOGY Hanatech - Australia’s number one selling scan tools are proud to announce the arrival of their new 2009 P1 models Internal multi gateway; all CAN protocols are accessed by simply using one connector. New bright screen models read in direct sunlight or under dimly lit conditions. 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New Generation Scan Tools Call 02 9905 8055 www.hanatech.com.au for your nearest national distributor As we said right at the beginning appreciate that we are independent with Ken Newton of our new enterprise, the TaT role and that we offer high quality is to harness the skills of those technical articles, written by our who have them, and share them own people, and that we don’t he vast majority of While this amount of time for with the technicians of Australasia. fill the pages with commercial technicians who bother to training over a long weekend might The dream was to stimulate a handouts. This magazine’s winning read my rantings in this Up seem small, there is no doubt huge network of expertise, where formula is based clearly on editorial Tfront column will, regrettably, that the information gained by technicians who may have only integrity. have already missed out on technicians can significantly add one particular skill on one particular one of the greatest training to their knowledge and make them type of vehicle, would willingly Our popularity explains why this events of the year, the Wire & better technicians. share their knowledge with fellow issue is a little fatter than usual, at Gas Training Convention and technicians. We wanted to break 40 pages. It is a special convention Trade Show in Surfers Paradise. And as we have said so many down the barriers of competition issue, and it may well be that we This two-yearly event, hosted times, better technicians usually with each other and present a bold will return to our normal 32 pages by the industry network VASA, earn better money, and they new and professional face to the in the next issue. However, we will is without doubt a unique enjoy greater job satisfaction than car driving community. It seems to be delighted if we have to increase gathering in which hard-nosed those who just coast along on be working, judging by the number our page numbers on a regular training has pushed the talk- the knowledge they gained from of subscribers to the TaT network basis. fest of keynote speakers well college. and the feedback we are getting, into the background. Wire & not just from the technicians, but And in answer to the couple of Gas is a working convention This issue of TaT is somewhat from the bigger end of town. comments we received about our - with a little fun attached. But focussed on training and magazine becoming ‘full of ads’, it traditionally attracts only knowledge. In The Last Word, We are intensely proud of the we assure readers that we intend 300 or so technicians and TAFE teacher Richard Jordan fact that, with little effort on our to strictly maintain a good balance exhibitor staff when the potential makes no bones about the part, major companies that supply of advertising to editorial and news audience could well be upwards relationship of knowledge to job superior tools and equipment to the pages. Let’s be honest. Without of 20,000 technicians. It’s the success. trade have adopted this magazine advertising, we can’t bring the only training convention of to present their message to the editorial messages to you. its kind that caters to a wide You will also notice the heavy technicians of Australasia. This is range of automotive technology, training program over the next the ultimate compliment. Anyone As well, we like to think that the from hybrid vehicles to air five months to which TaT’s head in business will know how difficult advertising we carry is of such conditioning. trainer Jeff Smit has committed the advertising market is at present interest and quality, that it serves his considerable energies and and companies with advertising a valuable role in informing Each delegate is offered a total resources. dollars spend them very wisely technicians about new tools and of 7.5 hours of solid training with by picking their marks carefully. ideas essential to their craft. their choice of 5 of the 10 training At the Wire & Gas Convention over It seems that those advertisers sessions available. The biggest the long weekend in June, half of who research the market have In coming issues, we will attempt trade show devoted solely to the expert trainers come from the concluded that this magazine to bring you many highlights of the auto electrical, cooling and air TaT stable. has the credibility and readability Wire & Gas Convention. But it still conditioning is a bonus. to support their messages. They won’t be as good as being there. The team Contents Publisher International correspondents Cover story: Don’t fear the future………4, 5 The Automotive Technician Pty Ltd Julian Hentze - Georgia USA •TaT Assist •TaT Chat •TaT Train Charges drop for electric cars……………5 ABN 27 121 589 802 Hayley Windsor - Australia •TaT’s a Fact •Tips for TaT New refrigerant approved………………6 Hybrid highs and temperature overloads…7 72 Holtermann Street - are all registered trade names of Reader The pesky Pulsar ………………………8 CROWS NEST NSW 2065 Bron Robinson The Automotive Technician Pty Ltd. The needles needed needling……………8 The Automotive Technician Pty Ltd [email protected] You light up my life………………………9 Advertising inquiries publishes technical advice and Ph 1300 828 000 Jeff Smit actual case studies for the Bad brakes! Bad motorist………………9 Fax 1300 828 100 [email protected] purpose of educating technicians. Electric bikes…………………………10 Editor in chief Ph 02 9966 8600 Technician awards……………………11 These advices are given in good Ken Newton Education before the fix………………11 faith, and are based on actual [email protected] Graphic design workshop repairs. No guarantee is Letter from America……………………13 0438 569 517 Russell Jones given, nor any liability accepted in Street Cred……………………………15 Fax 07 5591 8172 Russell Jones Graphic Design respect to any published advice. The world of Diesel Particulate Filter…18 07 5532 2840 0408 123 287 Technical editor TaT’s a Facts………………19, 20, 21, 22 [email protected] The Automotive Technician Pty Ltd Jeff Smit is not responsible for the accuracy Plastic window sliders problem………25 [email protected] of any information contained in Controlled area network Pt 2………26, 27 1300 828 000 Original TaT design standard Allan Green material submitted by third parties Dual Mass Flyweels vs Solid Flywheels…29 Technical research CEO Design and published in this magazine and Murphy’s Law - Keeping Cool…………30 Deyan Barrie accepts no liability in relation to [email protected] Auto electrical no longer boy’s game……31 [email protected] such materials or their content. 02 9476 6277 TaT’s interesting………………………34 Printing Newsworthy articles or comments Cars that sense accidents…….………35 Technical advisers Immij NSW are welcomed, and should be TaT training……………………...……37 Jack Stepanian 3/12 Mars Road, submitted to the editor in chief. Lane Cove The Last Word - Richard Jordan………38 Nick Murphy NSW 2066 All material appearing in The [email protected] Automotive Technician is copyright. The Automotive Technician is a member of www.immij.com.au the Circulations Audit Board. CAB Audited Reproduction in whole or in part is as at September 2009 - 9524 average net Wayne Broady distribution per issue. illegal without prior written consent Average copies mailed by post office or www.broadyauto.com.au Affiliated associations from the editor in chief. mailing house less returns - 7079 per issue. Gil Sher VASA (Automotive Air Conditioning, [email protected] Electrical & Cooling Technicians of All advertisers agree to indemnify Australasia) the publisher for all damages or Garry Reid [email protected] liabilities arising from their published [email protected] or unpublished material. The Automotive Technician 3 Don’t fear the future but prepare for it! Cover story by Ken Newton ‘There are so many exciting ‘The best part about our industry things happening in the modern is that through globalisation, the vehicle that all technicians technology in most modern cars need to treat themselves by is becoming standardised.